Pride never is a liability

I'm not entirely sure the NFL's denial of the commercial by AMVETS asking people to stand for the flag constitutes censorship. I am sure, though, that the denial can be called an incredibly dumb decision.

I'm even more convinced that it is another example of a warped ideology that all things good about America, and pride in those things, are for some reason I can't fathom offensive.

More and more, I see Americans of influence downplaying the greatness of this country. Too many times, we have been told we need to sublimate our success, our beliefs, our existence.

Even more heinous, to my mind, is immigrants that come here and demand that we respect their traditions and heritage while denying ours.

You've had to see it displayed around: School children told their American flag shirts had to be changed because they might offend Hispanics who were celebrating Cinco de Mayo - in California.

Or how many news reports have your read of homeowner associations telling veterans to take down American flags because they were offensive or against HOA rules.

Major media outlets certainly gave countless minutes of airtime and gallons of ink on players protesting against the country, so then why is a group whose intention is to honor the country treated in such a shabby manner?

In and of itself, it might seem like a minor thing, but I make some connections with a government that flouts the law, a court system that spends less time on law and legal matters and more time on social justice, I begin to wonder if conspiracy theorists are right and there is an effort to undermine our country.

I'm not at that point, but I'm worried.

This country has done so much for this planet, and the people on it. Yes, we've had our share of missteps, but our intentions always have been the betterment of everyone, mostly without cost to anyone. But more than that, it's a country that has been my home, and one that I love. It also is a country that millions have embraced as home as well.

There's a sadness that pervades when we feel we can't be proud of our country, and even sadder when we're banned from expressing that pride.

oFrom the Washington Post: "The White House asked to borrow a van Gogh. The Guggenheim offered a gold toilet instead" is this week's Headline of Note.

Apparently, President Trump and his wife asked the Guggenheim Museum for a Van Gogh painting to display, and were told an emphatic no.

However, as a consolation prize, the museum offered a gold toilet to be installed in the White House, since a satirical exhibit about the excess of wealth in the country was ending.

So, art was out, but here's a used facility that's a not-so-veiled jab at the wealthy. That's, well, pretty crappy.